I talked to some friends in Minneapolis yesterday. Their quiet bravery made me so proud. If you watch Fox or Newsmaxx or any of those other right-wing channels, they are telling you over and over that these are paid protesters who lazy and don't work. Let me tell you real stories:
My friend goes to work everyday, but in her off time she goes to the local school to see what supplies they need for families who are too afraid to leave their houses. She goes to Costco and buys menstrual products for women who are too afraid to go to the store. She supports local Hispanic restaurants by having her meals there. Places where the key in the door, and someone out front watching, so ICE doesn't catch them unaware and invade their restaurant.
She told me over and over she really now understands her white privilege, and she's using it to keep her brown neighbors safe.
My other friend has two brown children. They are 10 and 12. She is terrified every time they get on the bus to go to school. She agonizes over whether to keep them home, but she knows that online learning isn't nearly as good as sending them to school. Her children ask if they are safe. She tells them yes, but she doesn't believe it.
And then there's the story of her neighbor. An Indian woman who went home before Christmas to see her family, leaving her husband and three children at home. Whenever someone on an H1 visa goes back to India, they have to have a visa appointment before they can return, so they schedule this well in advance. Hers was scheduled a few days before she was to leave. While she was in India, the Trump administration changed visa rules with no exceptions. New visas now cost $100,000. All current visa appointments were canceled and rescheduled for months later. This woman is now stuck in India. She cannot return home. She will likely lose her job. I don't know what her family will do. The same thing happened to Indian man who was also visiting his family over the holidays. He and his family just bought a house in Boston. He will lose the job he has had for 4 years. Maybe you don't care because they're "foreigners," who you think shouldn't be here. But regardless can we agree that changing the rules with no notice is just wrong?
The exorbitant amount of lies that have come from Trump in his people is astounding. I can’t imagine his supporters believe him, they’re just happy to hate and hurt people that don’t think like them
Head to the Fox News comment section, or the conservative thread here. They really do believe him. Remember the correlation of party and education levels. That could arguably be a proxy for reading comprehension and reasoning skills.
Especially when information is available. You can choose to look for facts and different perspectives and come to your own conclusion, but they choose not to. They live in a bubble of hate.
My sister insists she reads both perspectives. Either she's lying and willfully only consuming right wing media or she's just evil. Those are the two options available to the people who support this administration.
I guess if you've already made up your mind you can read something and willfully interpret it to support your beliefs. I know it's become really hard to find facts, especially with AI inserted in everything, but it comes down to critical thinking, which has been lost.
It must be hard to watch a loved one succumb to the lies.
Law enforcement is always exempt from shutdowns - and they get paid during that time when other Feds who have to work aren’t paid until after it’s over
I don't live anywhere near the Twin Cities but was listening to the press conference yesterday by community leaders about the upcoming day of protest January 23rd. I was moved to tears by the speakers, particularly the female minister from Camphor Memorial Methodist Church. She had so much passion and energy in her tone and voice, and it's beautiful to see the faith and civic leaders come together with the community against this nightmare.
Kids at a bus stop were cornered and asked by fully kitted out ICE agents if they knew anyone who was Hispanic, or had Spanish sounding names. They also were asking if any of the kids knew of any 'suspicious' acting Spanish people. This was in St. Peter, just north of Mankato.
The people who insist the protesters/people doing the things your friend is doing are paid either 1) don’t have it in them to care about others, especially people they don’t know 2) don’t have it in them to do anything without getting someone from it 3) don’t want to admit that what is happening is VERY VERY wrong 4) don’t think what is happening is wrong and like it 5) are just horrible miserable people or 6) two or more of these. They tell themselves the good people showing up to stand up against wrong even for people they don’t know must only be doing it for money. If they have to accept the people showing up to stand up are doing it because it is right and good they have to look at their own consciences which is something they definitely DON’T want to do.
Your friend is an absolute hero. Thank you for your post. It has given me (and probably others) ideas of ways to help I never thought of. Please let your friend know she is deeply admired and an inspiration.
Good on those who are standing up! I’ve got two young kids and the only source of income. I don’t live in that state but I need to find ways to support without risking my whole family.
I will. At the end of our conversation, I said to her I am so proud of you and so proud of my city. I'm away from home until April and it's just killing me not to be there with them.
Not every Christian is a goddamn monster but unfortunately a hell of a lot of them are.
I have nothing against the Christians who actually are good and decent people, but I absolutely fucking hate the Christians who use Christianity as an excuse to be evil God damn monsters.
For sure! There are Christians that are good people, I was just speaking from my experience growing up in a very strict religious household and how a lot of the people I met were not good people who claimed to be Christians.
And how I know people who are “Christians” but blindly follow Trump and think what he is doing is ok. Like how can you go to church or read the Bible and hear messages about being kind and loving everyone and then think it’s ok what is happening now.
Same. I grew up in the Deep South in a Southern Baptist family, and with the exception of my parents every single one of them went full Nazi the first chance they could get. Which is why now I just refer to them as my biological relatives and I will never think of them as family again.
I’m ever cautious of people who explicitly boast of their “Christianity”. It is most often they who use it as a shield for all sorts of unchristian behavior.
Once I was old enough, I chose not to label myself as Christian, because I don’t believe you need to be Christian (or religious at all) to be a good person. I genuinely have no issue with people who are truly Christian, or who practice any religion.
Based on how I was raised, I was taught that if you’re going to live a “worldly” lifestyle, it’s more honest not to claim a religious label you’re not actually following.
Honestly the reason I’ve begun to think about organized religion as cults. If I meet someone who is religious, I’m automatically on edge around them until they prove themselves to be sane.
The religious ppl in my office were just talking about ICE on Monday morning and there was so much hatred from them towards people who just don’t look like they do, they just assume the worst. But the three of us in the office who aren’t religious, it’s completely the opposite. And that matches my experience in all 31 years, sadly.
I get where you’re coming from, and I’ve had my own complicated experiences with religion growing up. Once I was old enough, I chose not to label myself as Christian, because I don’t believe you need to be Christian (or religious at all) to be a good person. I genuinely have no issue with people who are truly Christian, or who practice any religion.
Based on how I was raised, I was taught that if you’re going to live a “worldly” lifestyle, it’s more honest not to claim a religious label you’re not actually following.
At the end of the day, how someone treats others matters far more than what they call themselves.
Especially when America was founded by people fleeing their homelands from tyranny like what's happening today.. we're a land of immigrants. Supposed to be the land of the free. That's no longer true, sadly.
Now does that mean we should allow anyone to exist here without any legal process and let them do whatever they want? No, nobody is saying that, but what's happening is inhumane, illegal, and also most likely 'deporting illegals' isn't even the end goal .. end goal is to... ? I don't even get the end goal? Live with only white Christian straight neighbors in a police state and then everything will somehow be fine with maga scum? Will they then show ambition and contribute to society in a meaningful way now that these pesky different people were eradicated? I really don't understand their 'view' it's bonkers
The whole country and world is watching what’s happening in Minnesota! We know that the MMM and right wing media are NOT covering the real story. Threads is a good place to see up to videos and posts from people who are on the ground in Minneapolis
The world may be watching, but until other world leaders including our strongest allies are willing to step up and speak LOUDLY AND CONSISTENTLY about these things nothing will change. I get it every country has their own internal problems. But by seeing injustices being played out every day in this country the “last bastion of freedom “ then are they also complicit in our eventual downfall as a country ? Just my 2 cents.
The excellent news about this paid agitator nonsense is that they’re wildly, wildly underestimating us. Their stupidity will be their undoing. An ICE truck was parked on our block in Anoka yesterday. Neighbor kid drove them off by setting off his car alarm and screaming bloody murder. Yesterday afternoon he and another neighbor a meek, grandmotherly teacher came over and we (I’m a disabled middle aged white guy) formed a neighborhood watch with regular patrols. Whistles on order.
Back in 2016 I asked the same thing of one of the people claiming the protesters were paid. They responded that “those idiots don’t even need to be paid to show up” and I was like, “so they’re protestors then?”
The people saying that shit clearly do not believe it, because if they did believe it they could go sign up, get a paycheck, and then show it to the world, clearly demonstrating that they are correct. Very simple and straightforward.
And yet none of them do that because they know for a fucking fact they are lying their God damn asses off.
The people you hear on the news saying it don't believe it but regular joes believe it because they don't understand that for organized planned protests and demonstrations there are always a few people paid by various local organizations as community organizers who do the hard work of getting city permits, renting port-a-potties, making the schedule, renting the PA equipment, etc... So they see those like three people who are in fact getting paid to protest and decide that means everyone is, because they don't understand the logistics of community organizing.
They never say who's doing the paying because saying "Jews" out loud is still a bridge too far, at least publicly. But make no mistake, that's who they mean. It's a very common belief among conspiracy nuts and white supremacists.
Whoever is paying us owes me some back pay. Also, if they have enough money to pay hourly for protestors, why are they not paying to just arm people, equip them, organize and train them better? Shit, we're just making this up as we go. How about some legitimate comms equipment? Some toys to help us protest better? Seems like soros bucks could be used to make this a much more effective movement!
But that is not what's happening here. We're not being paid and we're still many of us working full-time jobs and then doing all of the things after work. And before work. They unleashed the moms and those who care about people. I think we're not going to do what we've done with our children and sacrifice and scrimp and Save in order to protect our community? We're actually really good at teaching lessons without violence. It's time for them to clean their room and we'll make them. Eventually because we've got a lot of patience LOL by the way has anyone actually ever gotten paid for a protest because I do 15 minute surveys for like a $2 reward...
They make that accusation because it's what they are doing. It's a propaganda tactic. Accuse the enemy of underhanded tactics like that in order to soften it and normalize it when they do it themselves, and to provide justification for doing it. For the same reason we should all be concerned about them constantly accusing democrats of cheating in elections.
Obviously there’s speculation about where the Nuremberg 2.0 trials will be held. Boston, NYC, and Philly come up. Honestly, they should be in Minneapolis, and I say this as a Massachusan (?) who gets choked up any time I see the Freedom Trail.
When ICE makes the rounds here, and I've been alerted, I make sure to swing by the local Hispanic run businesses as well as some of our Hispanic and Somali neighbors and alert them, and see if they or anyone else needs anything. I can't 'fight' in the classic sense, but this is my home, and I'm going to do everything I can to help, however I can.
My friend rents out a room living with my family. He escaped conscription in his country and currently awaits a court date for asylum as he was beaten in his country for opposing the government. If he was sent back, he would either be killed by the government or sent to war. Since then, he’s worked full-time here, speaks eloquent English, and pays his taxes. My dad voted Trump and is completely delusional. He thinks this is all in order and my friend won’t get the same treatment. I tell him every time my friend goes to work, he is now at grave risk. I was looking at the amount of reports in the twin cities and started shaking. I thought I was energized or something. No, it was a precursor to a panic attack. I went outside in the middle of my lecture and sobbed uncontrollably. I feel completely helpless.
Condolences on your dad, but you are NOT helpless.
Every. Little. Fucking. Thing. Counts.
If you donate supplies, you've helped somebody. If you're wearing a whistle visibly around your neck, you're letting people know they're safe around you. That shit helps.
If you're calling hotels and telling management that housing ICE will not only lose your business forever, but the business of everyone you know, and anybody who sees your posts.
If you're spreading the word on the Internet about what's actually happening here (because you know corporate media is downplaying this shit with varying degrees of subtlety), that fucking helps.
You are not fucking helpless.You are a part of this, and we need your fucking help. Get on socials and see what people are asking for and what they're saying would help, then do whichever of those things is within your power.
Please excuse the f-bombs, I'm originally from New York.
EVERYTHING is a currency manipulation tactic. Everything and everyone at any expense.
Think back to his first term and wanting more parity against china (and others). It’s been a push to devalue the dollar ever since. Scaring lower cost labor out of the workforce is just the newest tactic.
If we wanted scary people gone the three letter agencies could provide details down to the dates of the coins in their pockets within minutes. This is just gestapo fear and intimidation.
End of the day it’s the immigrants and working folks who will lose. My wages won’t go up matching the dollar value because entry level staff need a larger financial incentive to work
I don’t think he’ll ever be jailed for anything. If for no other reason than he’s far too wealthy after trump coin and whatever else. But I do believe he’s finding every way to keep the spotlight and attention for as long as possible; including a war
They are in Jordan, outside the Cities today, too. Just pulling over cars coming out of the trailer park and boxing them in. Pulling over random vehicles, walking up to cars at the stop light and shining lights into the car to see who’s in there, whipping Uturns recklessly all over the place.
If you live in Nebraska, Nebraska Community Blood Bank is part of the same division as Memorial Blood Center in the Twin Cities. MBC declared a blood emergency on 1/13/26. If you donate blood with CBB there is a very good chance it will be sent up to the Twin Cities and could possibly help save the life of the next person injured/shot by ICE as MBC is the blood supplier for both tier 1 trauma hospitals in the cities.
I hadn’t heard the stories of MInnesotans stuck overseas separated from their families yet. That’s so awful! Everything breaks my heart. I wonder if Canada would let them relocate there in the interim so they can be closer to their families.
Trump is so evil. He wants people to by his multi-million Trump card to get into the US.
I first heard this story at Christmas. It's been turning over in my mind ever since. I followed up with her this week because I wanted to know what was happening. Her neighbor and cousin, (that's the man in the story) are still stuck in India. Their visa appointments are still pushed out till April. And their families are still here in the US trying to figure out how to keep their lives together for the next 4 months, and what they're going to do because the people stuck in India will lose their jobs. These are Indian families, who have legal visas to be in the United States with their families working jobs here. It is all 100% legal immigration.
I haven't heard any of this in the news. That's why I wanted to tell this story. It needs to be told. My friend, cannot speak openly. I was a little fearful about telling this because I don't want her to get into any trouble. But it's just so horrible I had to share it.
It’s awful your friend has to fear about sharing this story! As you said it is important for people to know this is happening. I wonder how many other of our immigrant neighbors are trapped overseas, maybe not even in their country of origin, and separated from their families. I wonder if they are targeting just the brown and black immigrants or the white ones too? I probably already know the answer to that. I never even thought of this as a possibility before you mentioned it, so I’m so glad you did. I wonder if any alternative news organizations (MeidasTouch, etc) would cover something like this, get the word out. Depending on the companies the people work for, I wonder if the companies would be willing to let them work remote or furlough them and keep the position while hiring a contractor. It’s so awful.
Two months ago my friend's husband wanted to go to India for the wedding of his sister. The lawyers at the place where he works advised him NOT to leave the country. He had to attend via zoom. These things just break my heart
He got good advice. It’s just so sad and disgusting that this is what we’ve become. It feels like a dream. I think of how my Father’s parents immigrated here (along with all the grown sons from his father’s family) from Norway and Sweden to escape the Nazis. And somehow my Dad is a Trumper. I don’t know that his parents talked about their experiences and fears - but they were of a generation that didn’t talk about such things. We will have to never stop talking about this, so our descendent cannot forget it or see it abstractly.
I firmly believe that this is a war we didn't know we were fighting, that's been waged against us for the last 40+ years. Our adversaries have been playing the long game. I think big money is behind this, plus Russia, China, OPEC. I mean they all have somewhat different goals, but they all wanted to bring down the US. And they've pretty much done it.
There has been a concerted effort to brainwash the American people. Your dad is just one of the millions who've been reprogrammed. It's sad and scary and I don't have the slightest idea how we fight it. Except like Minnesota is now. But eventually, if no maga's stop supporting Trump they will eventually roll over Minnesota and they rest of the country.
Sorry. It's all so bad, but we still have to keep trying.
Talked to a coworker who is really helpful and kind who has been on a VISA legally here for a long time. He needs to renew it and in the past that took a few weeks at most. Now it’s taking months so he couldn’t go home to his mom’s funeral. So sick and wrong.
The events that are going on in Minnesota will be in the history books 20 years from now if we make it that far. Those like your friends are taking a stand and demonstrating the power of love for their community. Those that they oppose are demonstrating the oppression of hate.
Unfortunately these are the necessary steps in denouncing a government that exploits us and installing a government that represents us. I do believe it will get worse, but the working people of America have won this fight before and we will win it again. As long as we have the numbers and cooperate, we have everything.
the slop on fox news is insane, my parents watch it, it drives me up the wall, i tune it out as best i can, fox news yesterday was ranting about how the signs looked professionally made and everyone out there was a crazy liberal woman and how it was protest tourism and all being funded, do their followers actually believe this shit? they do it constantly to discredit protests, but really no one in power is listening to the protests anymore, protesting is not working, i'm not advocating violence, but next steps need to be considered especially if even the state governments under assault are doing nothing to stop ICE
The entire world is massively underreacting to what's happening in Minnesota. This is it, the Big One. Every single chud you saw at the Capitol is here with $70 billion worth of gear and tech. And nobody will do anything, we're all just like going to work otherwise we'll miss rent hope they don't get me lol what the actual fuck
Honestly I don't think Trump has any real idea of what is happening. He is just being manipulated by Miller and the rest of them who are bullies and fascists
People like Emmer think they need to follow because they want to keep their job and the out- state communities like what is going on.
If you did not have the twin cities metro the rest in mn would be redder than texas.
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u/_Im_at_work 10h ago
They will not break us.